Photos of retiring defenseman Andy Sutton as an Edmonton Oiler

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton winds up during the hardest shot competition during the Oilers Skills Competition held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Jan. 14, 2012. Team White won 22 by a score of 22-13 against Team Blue. IAN KUCERAK/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

Edmonton Oilers Andy Sutton gets checked into the corner by Calgary Flames Rene Bourque during second period NHL pre-season action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alta., on Saturday, September 24, 2011. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN

Referee Don VanMassenvoven breaks up Edmonton's Andy Sutton and Vancouver's Henrik Sedin during the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Friday, October 25, 2011. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY ***NOT FOR RESALE***

Edmonton's Andy Sutton takes Vancouver's Aaron Volpatti to the ice during the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Friday, October 25, 2011. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY ***NOT FOR RESALE***

Andy Sutton takes part in an Edmonton Oilers' team practice at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Tuesday Nov. 29, 2011. DAVID BLOOM EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN QMI AG

Oilers Andy Sutton drags down Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak as he tries to get to the net during there game at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday February 15, 2012 PERRY NELSON - EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

Edmonton Oilers Nikolai Khabibulin, Andy Sutton and Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel watch the puck on a goal attempt during second period NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton beats goalie Nikolai Khabibulin with a wrap around during the Oilers Skills Competition held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Jan. 14, 2012. Team White won 22 by a score of 22-13 against Team Blue. IAN KUCERAK/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

Edmonton's Andy Sutton is hit by Anaheim's Devante Smith-Pelly during the third period of the Edmonton Oilers' NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Thursday, April 5, 2012. The Ducks won 3-2. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN

Andy Sutton takes part in an Edmonton Oilers' team practice at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Wednesday April 4, 2012. DAVID BLOOM EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Edmonton's Jordan Eberle, left, Cam Barker, centre, and Andy Sutton celebrate Barker's goal during the third period of the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Thursday, February 2, 2012. The Oilers won by a score of 8-4. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI

Edmonton's Andy Sutton Dallas' Jamie Benn into a ref during the first period of the Edmonton Oilers' NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN

Edmonton's Andy Sutton looks on after high sticking Calgary's Curtis Glencross during the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Saturday, December 3, 2011. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

CODIE MCLACHLAN

Edmonton Oilers Andy Sutton and Devan Dubnyk look for for a lose puck with Colorado forward Ryan O'Reilly during their game at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, January 31, 2012 PERRY NELSON - EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

Edmonton's Andy Sutton fights with Carolina's Tim Gleason after Sutton laid out Jeff Skinner with a hit during the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 7, 2011. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Edmonton's Andy Sutton hits Colorado's Milan Hejduk during the first period of the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Friday, February 17, 2012. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

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National Hockey League forwards are breathing a little easier this morning.

Andy Sutton has made it official, he won’t be hurting them anymore.

Sidelined all season by a knee injury, the 6-foot-6 defenceman announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the league.

The 38-year-old wanted to come back last season for one final year with Edmonton, but a “broken chunk of femur” that flared up during off-season training and needed two surgeries to repair forced him to sit out the lockout-shortened schedule.

“I didn’t know that the last game of the season we played in Vancouver may have inevitably been my last,” he said after the first surgery. “It’s definitely not the way I thought I’d go out after a good, long career. But at the same time, this has allowed me to be here around my family now. I think having a child has changed my perspective about everything and certainly my priorities.”

Sutton was a hard-hitting player who made opponents keep their heads up at all times. He played in 676 NHL games for seven different NHL teams, dishing out 1,134 hits, blocking 1,164 shots and earning 1,185 penalty minutes. He also chipped in 38 goals and 112 assists.

On top of it all, he was always one of the nicest guys in any of the dressing rooms he called home.

“My NHL career enabled me to not only play the game I love, but to also be a part of something that so many kids dream about growing up,” said Sutton said in a statement. “Throughout my 15 years in the league, I have played for some exceptional hockey teams and have met quality people and friends along the way.

“None of what I accomplished on the ice would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, friends, teammates and fans who made playing hockey even more enjoyable.”

In addition to Edmonton, Sutton played for San Jose, Minnesota, Atlanta, the New York Islanders, Ottawa and Anaheim.

“I had the pleasure of working with Andy in Edmonton,” Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger told the team’s website. “In the season he played for us, not only did he accept his role on the team, but what he was doing in helping bring our young kids along, and the person he was, was really influential on our group.

“We’re grateful to Andy for that. He always showed great character, stayed a gentleman in the process, and he gave us a good effort in his final season. We were sorry to lose him for this past season and it’s really too bad he couldn’t have played. I wish him all the best.”

National Hockey League forwards are breathing a little easier this morning.

Andy Sutton has made it official, he won’t be hurting them anymore.

Sidelined all season by a knee injury, the 6-foot-6 defenceman announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the league.

The 38-year-old wanted to come back last season for one final year with Edmonton, but a “broken chunk of femur” that flared up during off-season training and needed two surgeries to repair forced him to sit out the lockout-shortened schedule.

“I didn’t know that the last game of the season we played in Vancouver may have inevitably been my last,” he said after the first surgery. “It’s definitely not the way I thought I’d go out after a good, long career. But at the same time, this has allowed me to be here around my family now. I think having a child has changed my perspective about everything and certainly my priorities.”

Sutton was a hard-hitting player who made opponents keep their heads up